Swans veteran Dane Rampe will be hoping for a favourable Match Review Officer verdict on Saturday to ensure he’s free to play in next week’s Grand Final.
Rampe, who captained the Swans in the absence of injured skipper Callum Mills, played a crucial role in Sydney’s comprehensive preliminary final win over Port Adelaide on Thursday night.
But a first-quarter incident involving Rampe and Port Adelaide star Zak Butters will almost certainly be scrutinised by the MRO.
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As Butters handballed on the wing, Rampe made contact with the Power midfielder while in mid-air.
Speaking on Fox Footy at half-time on Friday night, Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph indicated Rampe had to be guilty of “forceful high contact” to be suspended for the Grand Final, but indicated “I just don’t think it meets the threshold”.
“I think the AFL would be very likely look at it and potentially fine him, but most of that contact is to the collarbone,” Ralph told Fox Footy.
“Even if it is categorised as high contract – which can be the head and the neck – Butters getting up clearly helps his case.
“I think it’s more of a glancing blow than forceful high contact. So I think it’s more likely a fine and we move on.”
Speaking to ABC Sport post-game, the veteran Swan had no concerns with the incident – and even suggested that Butters threw his head back amid the contact.
Rampe on Thursday night finished with 14 disposals and three intercept marks while going at 75 per cent efficiency by foot.
“I’m super proud. I’m a little bit lost for words, to be honest,” Rampe said post-match.
“I’m so grateful to the club for taking a chance on me and we get to go to The Big Dance again. It’s alluded us the last coupe of times, but we’re back in the ring – and that’s what you want to be doing as a club.”
Source Agencies
